LAOIS MOTORING: Ford Ranger Raptor mighty on and off-road
                         

The Ford Ranger Raptor almost looks like a toned down version of the monster trucks in a Mad Max movie. It looks straight out pf the wide open spaces of the USA ( but actually Australia) and looks and feel s very big on our home turf.

Basically it’s a crew cab design with a covered flat bed at the rear or some would call it a “pickup”. The Raptor sits 51mm taller than the Ranger and has a 150mm wider track for increased off-road ability.

The Raptor has been specifically engineered to tackle tough off road work at speed and boasts strong underbody protection designed to protect it from impacts with terrain at speed. Ford’s performance division had a hand in its development and it shows.

So has it got street cred?

You bet! I love its brutish styling, huge off road wheels and tyres and “Raptor” graphics. Its certainly got real presence and plenty of street cred!

So what’s it like inside?

The leather and alcantara interior is nicely finished and well bolted together. Its more luxurious than you might expect for a thumping great off-roader workhorse.The seats prove very comfortable and there is plenty of standard kit including six terrain management modes, namely Normal, Sport, Grass/Gravel/Snow mode, Mud/Sand mode, Rock and Baja mode. The Baja mode is set up for high speed off road work not unlike desert challenge terrain something your not likely to find here in Ireland!

The rear offers a roomy if upright seating position while the flat and covered and lockable load area at the rear will carry pretty much anything you might need to haul around.

The dashboard with analogue dials and a relatively small central touchscreen though perfectly functional is looking a bit dated in our digital world. But that said I prefer it to some of the horrible digital displays currently on the market from other manufacturers. That central screen boasts pretty basic graphics too.

All in all though I really liked being behind the wheel of the Raptor. Its a fun yet hugely practical machine.

What is under the bonnet?

It is really designed for a big meaty V6 but here its available with Ford’s 2.0 litre ECO blue turbo diesel. Mated to a 10-speed auto gearbox the combination works really well. The electronically controlled four wheel drive with 6 modes ensures the Raptor can tackle the toughest of terrain in it’s stride. With two locking differentials, 265mm of ground clearance and a tough ladder frame chassis it feels indestructible.

What’s it like to drive?

Climb aboard, using the side step and an interior grab handle and you are seated high up with a commanding view of the surroundings.

That 2.0 engine sounds good and does a decent job of hauling this 2.5 tonne thumper around.

It actually handles the tarmac admirably, the ride is good despite that performance oriented shock absorb set up. This pickup is designed to fly over jumps off road and land squarely something I didn’t get to test. However I did take it off road and tried I towing a fully loaded horse box. Frankly you would not even know it was towing such is its stability. The handy tow hook guidance system via the rear view camera is very helpful when hooking up.

I really enjoyed my many km behind the wheel, whether on or off-raid this Raptor never failed to impress me.

My Verdict

I can thoroughly recommend the new Raptor. Its brazen good looks, on and off road abilities and its practicality will make it an attractive proposition for those who want its many virtues but with a bit of sportiness too. The Raptor costs from €65, 230.